System and method for increasing the robustness of an optical ring network

1. In an environment having an optical ring network including a plurality of ring nodes and a plurality of optical links optically coupled between the plurality of ring nodes for carrying optical data traffic, a first optical cross connect switch optically coupled to a first ring node in the optical ring network, a second optical cross connect switch optically coupled to a second ring node in the optical ring network, the first ring node and the second ring node connected via at least one optical link, a restoration method comprising the steps of: (1) detecting a failure in the at least one optical link; (2) switching the optical ring network from a normal mode to a failure mode to bypass said failure in the at least one optical link; (3) switching the first and second optical cross connect switches to optically couple the first and second ring nodes to an alternate network, wherein transmission between the first ring node and the second ring node is via an alternate path of said alternate network; and (4) switching the optical ring network from said failure mode to a normal mode, wherein said normal mode includes transmission via said alternate path of said alternate network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (5) switching the first and second optical cross connect switches to optically couple the first and second ring nodes to the at least one optical link of the optical ring network when said failure of the at least one optical link is repaired, wherein transmission between the first ring node and the second ring node is via the at least one optical link.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step (5) further comprises the steps of: (a) sending a false failure signal simulating a failure in said alternate path when said failure of the at least one optical link is repaired; (b) switching the optical ring network from said normal mode to said failure mode; (c) switching the first and second optical cross connect switches to optically couple the first and second ring nodes to the at least one optical link; and (d) switching the optical ring network from said failure mode to said normal mode, wherein data transmitted between the first ring node and the second ring node is via the at least one link.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (5) switching the optical ring network from said normal mode the said failure mode, upon a subsequent failure of an additional optical link of the optical ring network while the at least one optical link is inoperative, wherein said failure mode includes transmission of traffic over said alternate path of said alternate network.

5. In an environment having an optical ring network including a plurality of ring nodes and a plurality of optical links optically coupled between the plurality of ring nodes for carrying optical data traffic, a first optical cross connect switch optically coupled to a first ring node in the optical ring network, a second optical cross connect switch optically coupled to a second ring node in the optical ring network, the first ring node and the second ring node connected via a first optical link of the plurality of optical links, a restoration method comprising steps of: detecting a failure in a second optical link of the plurality of optical links; switching the optical ring network from a normal mode to a failure mode to bypass said failure in said second optical link; switching the first and second optical cross connect switches to optically couple the first and second ring nodes to an alternate network when a subsequent failure is detected in the first optical link prior to repair of said second optical link, wherein transmission between the first ring node and the second ring node is via an alternate path of said alternate network; switching the optical ring to normal mode when said second optical link is repaired, wherein transmission between the first ring node and the second ring node is via said alternate path; switching the first and second optical cross connect switches to optically couple the first and second ring nodes to the first link when the first link is repaired, wherein the transmission between the first ring node and the second ring node is via the first optical link; sending a false failure signal simulating a failure in said alternate path when said failure of the first optical link is repaired; switching the optical ring network from said normal mode to said failure mode; switching the first and second optical cross connect switches to optically couple the first and second ring nodes to the first optical link; and switching the optical ring network from said failure mode to said normal mode, wherein data transmitted between the first ring node and the second ring node is via the first optical link.